The Mirror Winter Issue

All County Chorus:

The Place for You

By: Aya Rock-Stryker

If you are a serious and committed singer and you are wondering where you could go to sing your heart out, or you want to try something new, then All County Chorus is the place for you. You might be wondering What is All County Chorus? Well, it’s pretty much what it sounds like! All County Chorus is a fun extracurricular where about a dozen kids from middle school choruses all over the county learn a couple songs, and perform them together at the All County Chorus Festival this January.

There is an audition process but no worries. To audition Mr. Halpern chooses a part of a current chorus song that you sing at your audition. The audition is a low stress environment, with Mr. Halpern and other kids who are auditioning in the room. Here are some interviews of two kids in Jr. High All County Chorus this year: Abby Mikael, and Aya Rock-Stryker.

Me: How many kids can get accepted into All County Chorus?

Aya: Well, a certain number of Sopranos, Altos, and Baritones get accepted depending on how many are in each section of the school Chorus, so it varies from year to year.

Me: For our readers who might not be singers, what is a Soprano, Alto, and Baritone?

Aya: A Soprano is a girl with a higher voice range, and Alto is a girl with a lower voice range, and a Baritone is a boy with a range between lower and higher.

Me: Is 6th, 7th, and 8th grade in Jr. High All County Chorus?

Aya: No, it is just 7th and 8th grade in Jr. High All County, and 6th grade is in elementary All County.

Abby’s interview:

Me: What are your feelings on this year's song collections?

Abby: I love the song selections for this year, especially 900 miles and Non Nobis Domine. I like that the songs are more difficult than regular chorus music, and I'm grateful for the better songs.

Me: What is your favorite part about All County Chorus?

Abby: My favorite part of the all-county chorus is when we start learning new songs, and the performance. I love learning new songs, because I love singing, and because I love learning how the harmonies fit into each other. I love the performances, because I love listening to the final outcome of a piece of music.

The concert was an overwhelming success! All County is a great experience and fun extracurricular activity. I hope this article inspires people to join next year.

All County Band:

Can You Fulfill This Challenging Task?

By Ruofan Ren

Are you interested in playing a solo? Are you willing to accept a challenge that involves playing an instrument? Do you want your artistic skills on an instrument recognized? Well, look no further! All County Band might be just right for you.

What is All County Band? Well, it’s kind of like a club. Only, to get in, you have to practice and perform a solo in front of a judge. They give you points on how well you perform the solo. Only a certain number of people get in to All County Band, so try your best! There isn’t a certain number of points you have to get to get in. Even if you aren’t in band, you could still try out! Anybody can try out this year, from 6th to 8th grade. All you have to do is fill out a form, and you can audition! (There is a deadline for the form, though, so get the form in before that.)

We had a lot of people trying out this year, and some people’s opinions on All-County Band are recorded here. (Remember that these are not all the people trying out, just the people I could find.)

Interviewed people: 6th grader Ada Fullam and 7th grader Cassandra Benner.

Question: What instrument are you trying out with?

Ada: “I am trying out with the flute.”

Cassandra: “Clarinet.”

Question: What’s your piece called?

Ada: “It’s called Mosquito Dance.”

Cassandra: “Sonatina.”

Question: On a scale of 1 to 10, (1 being easy, to 10 being difficult,) how hard is your solo?

Ada: “About a 6-7.”

Cassandra: “A four, I guess.”

An interview with Ms. Nosovsky!

Question: What are some tips that might help you make All-County?

Ms. Nosovsky: “First, commitment. Second, dedicated practice to JUST the All-County solo. You have to be willing to take hard parts slowly, fix the wrong notes or rhythms and then slowly speed it up to tempo. Third, practicing your scales! It's free points that you can count on. Fourth, asking for help. It's ok that you don't have all the knowledge yet.”

What do you think? If you were to try out, would you make it?

New Paltz Middle School's Winter Concerts

By Aaron Weed

Every year at the New Paltz Middle School, there are 3 main concerts held throughout the year. One concert is in the spring and the other two are in the winter. New Paltz’s 2025 Winter Concerts took place at the High School. The performances that were held were the 6th grade band and chorus, 7th grade band and chorus, and the 8th grade School Of Rock, along with the band and chorus, all of which were immaculate.

The concert started with the 6th grade band playing “Santa the Barbarian,” “Steal The Thunder," and “How to Train Your Dragon,” all of which were played flawlessly, and carved an opening for the next performers to creep onto the stage! And these said “next performers” were the 8th grade School Of Rock! who had played instruments and sang “How Long Do I Have To Wait," “Your love keeps lifting me,” “Hold On,” and “Working Man,” all of which had gone perfectly, and gracefully with solos from 3 of the singers. Then the 6th grade concert performed last.

This winter concert took place on December 9, 2025 in the New Paltz High School. About 150 people had attended the concert that night compared to the 32 students in School of Rock, 67 students in the 6th grade band, and 57 students in a 6th grade chorus. Meanwhile there were 4 teachers accompanying performers, Mr. William Halpern, Ms. Sonya Nosovsky, Mr. Ross Hogan, and Ms. Laura Bryant.

After the last winter concert had finished, one thing was sure. This concert season was unforgettable! It contained many laughable and enjoyable moments. But that isn’t all, the end of this concert brings a nice finale to the year's final weeks, giving a grand welcome to the year 2026!